The Salvation Army has released a manifesto listing 13 social policy challenges to the political parties – from homelessness to anti-human trafficking, help for older people and the long-term unemployed.

Police in Pakistan say that the suspected killer of a Salvation Army worker, who held an administrative position in the group's Lahore office, had been arrested but had escaped from custody over the past weekend. Embezzlement is suspected.

The Methodist Church says it is relieved by the Gambling Commission’s prevalence study, which shows that the number of problem gamblers is the same as the previous study in 1999 and the number of people gambling is slightly lower.

Amid growing concern about depression and suicide in Britain and Ireland, especially among the young, The Salvation Army has announced that it will be holding a two-day International Conference on Suicide Prevention next month.